Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-20
TO WELCOME Ex-GOv. SHEPHERD,
Citizens Take Steps 10 Provide An Inn
posing Reception.

| THE MASS MEETING AT THE NATIONAL RIFLES Ar
NoRY LAST NIGHT-A GENERAL PLAN AGREED on
AREcEPrIoS ON AN UNUSUAL SCALE OF MAGSIF1-
CRNCE PROPOSED.
The call for meeting OF "citfzens OF the District
! OF Columbia who desire to unite In rendering to
ex-GOv. Shepherd public demonstration OF wei
come on his return TO the city OF Washington
met with a response last evening that gave full as
surance TO the gentlemen who originated the move
ment that they had not mistaken public senti-
| ment. The National Rifles Hail was filed with
gathering or representative citizens little after
O'Clock Mr.. Hallet Kilbourn called the meeting to
order, and On his motion ex-Mayor Jas G. Berret
was called upon to preside.
CHAIRMAN BERRET's OPENING REMARKS
Col Berret upon taking the CHI air remarked that
the object Of the meeting was so well known to
everyone there that he felt that he should best dis
charge his duty by proceeding at once to the bust
ness before them without commentary from the
chair. AT the same time he claimed tn, privilege
or saying That no one entered more cordially than
he did in a movement TO render honor to one TO
whom so much honor is due. ut is well known to
you' he said, 'that in the execution OF the trust
committed to him millions and millions OF dollars
were expended upon the Identification and adOrn-
ment of this capital-expended by q power exer-
his great honor and credit that he left the public
trust with clean hands and an empty purse"
in by
had col been ser nc RrSsTsaas as said
wealth OF his country and to restore his broken
fortunes In land far removed from civilization
trust that he has recuperated his fortune, and
that the day Is not far distant when he will re-
turn to the capital OF the nation to receive the
honor and consideration to which he is entitled,
whole Country at large. fApplaase.f We have ca
CITY winch every man throughout the land can
feel Just pride In, and that the people OF the
country do feel proud OF the capital Is TO be found
In the fact that her representatives in Congress no
longer hesitate to appropriate generously for its
Identification and adornment; and the time, in
my Judgment, Is near at hand when the civil
lied world will admit that the city founded by him
whose honored name II bears is the most beautf-
all classes OF people, rich and poor educated and
uneducated- The time will come when every
vacant lot will be occupied by residences that will
90 honor to the taste OF the people and credit to
their occupants"
Mr.. Haiiet Kilbourn was elected secretary.
GENERAL PLAN ADOPTED.
Mr.. w. F. Mattingly offered resolution ''That
It is the sense OF this meeting that popular
demonstration Of welcome to ex-Gov. Shepherd be
rendered him In the form OF q parade and review,
In which all civic and military organizations and
bodies OF the District and the citizens generally
following the parade Gov Shepherd and wife be
requested to hold public reception, where the
citizens and ladies Of their families can pay their
Mr.. Mattingly remarked that he had not in
Tended saying anything in support OF the resOlu-
tlon put ne thought IL proper TO say that the gen.
tlemen who had conferred together as to the pro-
posed demonstration had concluded that its size
would probably preclude such thing as Il banquet,
and that Ii was desirable TO have some demOnStra-
ton in which every citizen could take part.
Inc resolution was adopted.
COMMITTEES TO APPOINTED.
Mr.. NJ. Nj. Parker offered a resolution THAT the
Chairman be authorized to appoint an executive
committee OF fifteen with authority in said CON-
mittee TO appoint such subcommittee as may be
deemed necessary to carry into effect the proposed
demonstration Of welcome TO eX-GOv. Shepherd.
That the officers OF this meeting be included in
said executive committee and that the chairman
announce the names appointed on said committee
through the newspapers" Mr.. Parker said there
was but one sentiment In this community and in
this meeting as TO the propriety OF having public
demonstration in honor OF ex-Gov. shepherd. But
how the sentiment should be expressed, and the
details OF arrangement required time and careful
consideration by committee such as the resolu-
ton proposed.
MIR. b. 7. Swart seconded the resolution.
Mr.. VIII X. C0wan offered an amendment to in
crease the committee TO twenty-five, and to make
the chairman and secretary OF the meeting chair
This amendment was voted down and the reSOlu-
ton as offered by Mr.. Parker was adopted.
THEY WERE PRESENT IN SPIRIT.
Mr. KflbOurn read the following dispatch from
Providence, r. l., which was received with ap-
plause: "The undersigned, not being able to be
business here, would say that the movement has
our very best wishes for its welfare. Nothing we
think can be too good or great or expensive The
management can count on us physically, mentally,
and financially to make the reception to Gov Shep.
herd grand success"
tsigned: II. L. Crawford, Thos someryille, W. s.
RooSe1 w. X. Smith, and F. K. Ward.
THE KEYS OF THE CITY,
Mr.. G. c. Lancaster said that in view Of the reso-
luton adopted by this meeting, 1t seemed TO him
appropriate that the people Of Washington should
do some signal act to testify to their sentiment of
respect for and gratitude to Alexander r. Shep-
nerd. He Thought the proper thing TO do was to
offer him the freedom OF the city. Gov Shepherd,
he said, returned here a grand hero, cOnQuefor
the bounds Of this 10 miles square Should meet
him at the bounds OF the city, and there offer him
the key OF the citadel OF this town and the tree
too great TO show their sentiment toward the man
who had so benefited this city and so enriched it
by bis genius. In his Judgment there was no way
that would express this so emphatically, no way
that would touch the great heart OF the man they
desired to honor more than TO have the populace
meet him at the entrance TO the capital and offer
him the golden keys OF the CITY, Talk about a
monument! What greater monument could there
be than the record that the first man ever offered
freedom or the city was Alex. X. Shepherd. They
had not met here for any common place express
sion; not TO dine him, not for fireworks and pa
rade, but TO do something signal, something that
would attract worldwide attention and give ap-
propriate emphasis to an extraordinary occasion.
he, therefore, offered resolution that the city of
y,
Gov Shepherd the keys OF the city and the free
dom OF the capital
A gentleman having asked what the motion was
Col. Berret said that 1t 'That the Commission.
ers or the District be requested TO offer to Gov
Shepherd the Keys OF the city and the freedom of
the capital, as representing the city of Washing
ton"
A motion to refer the matter to the executive
committee was cOncurred in by Mr.. Lancaster and
carriou.
Mr.. VOLTS TRIBUTE
Mr.. Simon Wolf said he would like to suggest
that the District Commissioners be requested to
make the day on which the demonstration takes
place public holiday so far as IL is In their mower
10 do so. He believed he Was one of many and
yet, alas! not too many, who stood by ex-(;oy
shepherd from the time he conceived the idea of
making the nations capital. No amount OF
newspaper criticism, no amount OF mig
gardiy comment by those enriched by his
genius, could shake his confidence in Alex. r..
would come-aS all things In the course OF time
must come-when people who are ungrateful
when States which are ungratef0l when cities
which are ungratefuI must make reparatton and
acknowledge their ingratitude; and the career OF
Alexander X. Shepherd and his grand achievements
away sore, almost heartbroken, and nnanciaIIy
bankrupt, comes back TO the city OF his birth. 70
the city OF his love, TO the city which he created
as the man who deserves at our hands all thai p
conqueror-not on battlefield, but a conOueror
through the means OF peace-should receive
III has been my good fortune TO have been awav
from this city In foreign lands, where found the
ruler OF an empire who had done lust as Shenherd
had done, and had torn down One-half OF a city
ana made new city Of grand Old Cairo one
night at a banquet, when called on for a sneecb
simply said 'lsma1l Pasha is the Alexander X.